Kristy Bowen

Adding an accent wall to your bedroom can serve all sorts of functions, from making a space more cozy to visually lengthening or widening the room. It can be a great way to make a boxy square or rectangular bedroom seem more interesting or create a focal point in the room when utilizing the space behind your bed. There are many ways to add interest to a wall, be it with paneling, wallpaper, or other architectural elements. Paint, however, can be one of the least expensive and takes only a few...

Traditional wooden fences are often the standard for many homeowners, and there are a few different options for creating just the right look for your outdoor space, be it traditional picket fences around a garden or high cedar fences between yards. But if you're looking for something more unique or budget-friendly than wood fence installation, there are a wealth of other material options and fence construction methods perfect to achieve the look you are going for, including fences made from o...

Lavender growing wild and profusely in your outdoor space can add abundant color, texture, and scent to your yard. If you planted this fragrant herb, you may be wondering how to bring some of that beauty inside your home, either as decoration or for more practical uses. The great news is that lavender is one of the best plants that you can bring into your home in any of its forms, whether its fresh from the garden or has been drying for months. Not only does it look amazing when slipped into ...

If you're hunting for antique picture frames, head to your local thrift store and take a look at their art and wall decor aisles. Whether you're looking for beautiful additions to your perfect gallery wall, the ideal vintage frame for a prized family photo, or a stylish way to frame a painting or print, you can usually expect to pay only a few bucks for your finds. Still, some frames are infinitely more desirable and potentially valuable than others, usually drawing design details and constru...

Thrift stores can be a treasure trove of budget-friendly and distinctive items for your home. But you may be overlooking their potential to create a welcoming and relaxing outdoor space, where they can offer just as much charm and character as indoors. You can create a unique and eclectic garden or yard with ordinary items you come across while thrifting, many via ingenious DIY upcycling and repurposing projects that make something new from something old. You can craft everything from gorgeou...

While the 20th century may have been about large and heavy wooden matching dining sets, today's homes often take a lighter approach, with fewer uniformly designed furniture pieces and a mix of both old and new pieces to create multi-layered spaces. This means thrift stores and other secondhand venues are often filled with the outdated cast-offs, particularly large dining room hutches meant to store china and other dishware. These lumbering pieces often offer closed storage below, and open she...

Animal-related decor trends have a tendency to rise and fall over the years. Great examples include the dressable porch goose trend and the country kitchen design rooster craze of the last few decades. Swans may be something you're convinced you are seeing everywhere these days, particularly in thrift stores, where relics from the trend's previous popularity wave are making their way into modern homes in new ways. This makes swans a hot commodity, whether it's graceful swan planters or delica...

Bathrooms are typically some of the smallest spaces in your home, often vastly overlooked when it comes to décor. Many people love choosing tile, fixtures, and counters. But when it comes to decorating the space, they simply add a shower curtain, matching accessories, and a soft rug and call it a day. But you can actually turn your bathroom into a much more luxe and expensive-looking space by avoiding expected, matching bathroom décor pieces and instead using decidedly non-bath-associated ite...

Unique and distinctive décor doesn't have to be expensive, particularly when it comes to stylish lighting. There are seemingly infinite options for retail-provided lamps and DIY approaches to lighting your home. One popular lamp style adds a little bit of both these dynamics, providing a glass jar or cylinder as a base that you can fill as desired with everything from seashells and crystals to your favorite miniatures and toys. The many options allow you to create the perfect lighting fixture...

Unique and whimsical décor items can help bring endless character and charm to your home, especially when they are time-worn vintage or antique pieces. Many evoke nostalgia for the past and design details from bygone eras, some with higher price tags and collector interest than others. More recently, enthusiastic TikTokkers are particularly excited about a rare early 1990s martini lamp courtesy of designer David Krys. Not only is this lamp perfect for adorning your mid-century modern-inspired...

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Lighting is always an important element in the bathroom, where needs vary from simple task lighting to soft lighting. Many newer homes focus on basics, using builder grade over-the-mirror bar lights, ceiling fixtures, or recessed canisters that may do a great job of lighting the room, but often lack any real design flair. Swapping those out is especially important if you are intent on following any of the stylish vintage bathroom decor...

Vintage cookbooks can have all sorts of utility in today's kitchens, whether it's providing inspiration and guidance on new dishes or serving as prized decorative items on a shelf or counter. While there are many gorgeous cookbook's out there covering a variety of meals and international cuisines, some vintage and older cookbooks can be worth quite a lot, depending on desirability among collectors, visual style, and the fame of its authors. They can be found in places like thrift stores, seco...

Vintage bathrooms often have a distinct charm and sense of history that can make modern-day spaces feel sterile and cold. While many love the functionality of today's bathrooms in terms of space, fixtures, and modern conveniences, there are many ways to give even the newest bathroom some vintage style, whether you're craving the look of Victorian luxury or mid-century modern sleekness. Some of them are small, inexpensive elements to add to an existing space, while others involve more in-depth...

Outdoor spaces can be some of the most enjoyable to spend time in, allowing you a chance to relax, get close to nature, and entertain to your heart's content. While these spaces take many forms, one of the most classic versions of a patio involves covering the surface with gravel, which can create a chic European country house vibe no matter where your home actually is. There are many glorious options for turning a simple pebbled or graveled patio into a stunning feature that ups your curb ap...

Lighting up your home with the soft glow of candles can create a romantic and festive atmosphere, and placing them in a well-crafted DIY candle holder makes it so much more fulfilling. Light up your creation while taking a relaxing bath surrounded by pillar candles or admire your craftwork as you gaze at your sleek taper candles in the center of your table setting.
There are a host of objects and materials that can serve as holders for your candles, whether store-bought or hand-poured in your...